As sunlight scatters through the atmosphere, it turns the entire sky dome into a daylight source. The proper use of daylight coupled with thoughtful electric lighting design and control applications can signifcantly reduce energy used by lighting.

ALG Online devotes an entire chapter to understanding the impacts of daylight on commercial spaces and effective ways to integrate daylighting strategies into low-energy building designs.

To see more, log in to ALG Online and visit the daylighting chapter. The content covers technical background, daylight sources, design strategies, fenestration technologies, electric light and controls integration and simulation tools.

ALG Online was created with the help of over 20 authors--leading experts in lighting education, research, engineering, manufacturing, and design.  

Dr. Konstantinos 'Kosta' Papamichael is one of our notable authors contributing the ALG chapter on daylighting. Kosta is a professor of design and the co-director of the California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC) at the University of California, Davis.  

During the last 30 years, Kosta has conducted research and development on energy efficiency strategies and technologies for buildings, focusing on fenestration systems and daylighting, the integration of electric lighting and fenestration controls, and design and development of computer-based tools that facilitate energy and environmental impact considerations for building design and operation decision-making. Kosta has authored/co-authored over 80 publications related to research and development in these areas, and holds four patents on lighting controls.

He is the chair of the Daylighting Committee of the Illuminating Engineering Society, which recognized his work in photosensor lighting controls for daylight harvesting as a unique and significant advancement to the art and science of lighting.